Hello there!
Outside my window ...
How Tom loves sitting on his bench, watching the wild birds! Last week he came in, all excited, to report one of the cardinal sister wives is building a nest in one of the bushes that fronts our living room. Unfortunately, she's positioning it directly under the roof's edge ... totally susceptible to our next rainfall tsunami. What to do? I suggested positioning a shower cap a few inches above the nest, but he's not crazy about that. Ideas, anyone?
I'm feeling ...
Pretty darn stupid!
15 years I endured OSHA safety training, to include ergonomic lifting techniques. I knew better! Still -- instead of taking time to remove the boxes in the front of our closet -- I leaned way forward, outside my center, to set down a heavy bankers box in the back. Sproing! All I gotta say is thank goodness for those Salon Pas patch-thingies!
I'm thankful ...
Long walks and talks with Pastor Janet. Only a few years younger than me, she's enormously easy to talk to:
Everything from remedies for thinning hair … to calories n' carbs … to, (me) "Whatever happened to those 4 words missing from the Apostles Creed (that) I was taught as a girl?"
In my (stinky) kitchen ...
Because Tom and I both love onions (of all colors - ha!), this recipe caught my eye. Before making the meatloaf, yesterday I filled our big slow cooker full of sliced onions, drizzled them with melted butter and set the timer on low for 11 hours. Easy-peasy, and now we've enough caramelized onions for months.
French Onion Meatloaf
Good to know ...
So, this hack may be common knowledge ... but it was new to me!
During Debbie's visit, she watched me struggle to dispose of a skillet of hot grease.
Does anyone remember their mothers/grandmother's can of lard that sat at the back of their stove? Deb suggested I simply line a coffee mug (or large bowl) with aluminum foil and pour in the grease. Once it congeals, just wrap it up in a ball and toss in the trash. Voila!
Oh my goodness! ...
So I recently became aware of charcoal-activated toothpaste that's supposed to help whiten teeth. Sure enough, the gel is pitch black. I'll spare you the visual evidence, but I nearly had a heart attack when I glanced in the mirror. Just like something out of Tales from the Crypt!
Makes me smile ...
My coffee buddy, Macie Ann
Have a beautiful day, friends, and don't forget … be safe!
Hugs from Coosada,
Myra
One suggestion about the hot melted grease. Whilst still in the pan we mix either bird seeds (from most pet shops) or bread. Then let it set hard as you suggest. We put the grease balls out in coconut shells (or other containers) amongst the bushes for the birds to eat.
ReplyDeletePraying you soon feel better from you back injury.
God bless.
What a splendid idea! We regularly buy seed at Wal-Mart for the 2 bird feeders, but will definitely try your idea.
DeleteOnions.... As I am thinking right now, I could eat the whole pot of caramelized onions! they sounded great. (So the meat loaf looks great too)
ReplyDeleteYES I remember the lard pot, can or jar!
Now Thanks for the grease tip. I did not know about that and will definitely use it.
Love sent from NC,
Sherry & jack
PS: I couldn't come up with a good idea for mr. & mrs Cardinal!
They were sooo good and so easy! I can't imagine having to cohabitate with anyone who doesn't like onions or garlic. HA!
DeleteAs to the grease in pans... I let it cool a bit and then just sop it up with paper towels that I can just toss. My mom had one of those coffee cans full of grease. Yikes and yuck!! Sure hope you back feels better! Joe uses those patches too!
ReplyDeleteThanks … yes. A couple days w/ the heating pad and Salon Pas did the trick. Learned my lesson!
DeleteThe meatloaf looks good. I hope the cardinals nest withstands the rain.
ReplyDeleteFrom your lips to God's ears, my friend!
DeleteWe made the recipe Ma featured on her blog a few days ago with the Parmesan creamy spinach with an onion in it. Oh my gosh; it was delicious!
ReplyDeleteI remember my mom pouring grease into an old soup can and then when it cooled throwing it away.
Bird watching is a great thing to do! I envy Tom his bench and his siting of what comes your way. I miss the quail from Prescott.
How neat with the friendship with your pastor. I'm now curious what the 4 words are that are missing from the Apostle's Creed.
Hope your back feels better!
betty
The creamy spinach is going on our table tonight! I was a little hesitant to write it. But the Creed I was taught (in the Lutheran church) included: "He descended into Hell" -- right after, "Was crucified, died and was buried."
DeleteJesus’ descent into hell means that Jesus “sojourned in the realm of the dead prior to his resurrection”. Like all men, Jesus experienced death, and thus his soul joined others in this realm. But “he descended there as Savior” and preached the good news to the spirits imprisoned there (1 Pet. 3:19). See also 1 Peter 4:6. which states that the "good tidings were proclaimed to the dead".
DeleteGod bless.
Thank you for this explanation, Victor!
DeleteI pulled my back a little this week while loading potting soil.
ReplyDeleteSo I literally feel your pain:)
R
Ouch! Those Salon Pas patches really work.
DeleteSure hope you feel better soon, Myra - aging is definitely NOT for sissies! I think your little bird friends will be fine just where they are, so don't worry about that. And the grease? I pour it off in a can and store it in the freezer. When the can is full (and frozen), we toss it in a garbage bag we're about to take to the can. Works well!
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
There you go! Great idea! Thank you for the encouraging words about the birds. No doubt they've been building longer than we've been here.
Deletekisses to your pawesome friends. about the bird nest. Mama cardinal has been building in the powder puff bush RIGHT AT HEAD height of BIG. we saw him staring and found it. half built. I removed and trashed it. better that than a dead bird or babies falling out on the ground and becoming dead babies. she promtly moved to the other side and way up high built another one. do it while she is building and she will start another one. i have done this for years
ReplyDeletethat onion trick is great. and i have done the same thing to my back and wondered why. i will be suing the foil in a cup thing. super duper idea. i pour mine in the used coffee container, store until it is 1/2 full inside a cabinet and them toss it in the garbage.
Mother Nature can sure teach some hard lessons. About the strain -- it was drummed into our heads to lift with our legs, not our knees -- and never, ever reach outside your center of gravity.
DeleteWishing the cardinal good luck but have found it's best not to mess with mother nature, She will son relocate if need be. Those caramelized onions sound wonderful and nice to have on hand when needed. I've not had a meatloaf in a while and I'm thinking yours sound great. Glad you have a new friend there that shares. I say the creed every Sunday, so I also wonder what 4 words yours is missing. So sorry to hear about your back, but it's a lesson learned that you'll not soon forget. I started having back problems at a young age and have learned the lesson well. Leftover grease usually turns into gravy of some kind at my house ! Ha! Waste not want not!
ReplyDeleteLove and hugs,
'ma'
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteIt's been many years since I worshipped in the (Lutheran) church in which I was raised -- but the words, "He descended into Hell" were definitely part of the Creed. Our Pastor Janet was raised Presbyterian and said she remembers that. I don't know if it's just the Methodist church, but she says it was removed because so many people became confused. We also used to recite the Nicene Creed on communion Sunday, but they don't do that either.
DeleteThese words were also in the Catholic creed. But I noticed recently we no longer say them.
DeleteGod bless.
Hmmmm.... Again, thank you for taking time to clarify this!
DeleteThat's a dilemma with the nest. Hate to bring plastic into the mix. Maybe a temporary piece of metal nailed into the soffit to deter the water. Ouch on the back!! Yes I remember the cans of fat. I have to admit I've done that trick she taught you. Next time I use my charcoal toothpaste I will have to check myself out in the mirror. Love the puppy smile!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to suggest this to Tom. Thanks, Debby!
DeleteI got a sample of that Hello toothpaste and my nieces and nephew loved you - YOU KNOW WHY! HA! I hope your back feels better quickly - it seems like I am tweaking something new daily! UGH! I love fried onions but you are right - your house will stink for days! HA Annster's Domain
ReplyDeleteHa! Perhaps we should publish pictures. It does taste good, tho!
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteHow ironic - - I had meatloaf today, with plenty of potatoes and onions. I love onions and put them in almost anything.
As for the cardinal nest - I have no plausible suggestions, but I hope the bird's have flood insurance.
Okay, I'll admit it wasn't funny.
Love the pic of Macie Ann!
Meatloaf is the ultimate comfort food! And from what you've been through lately, that's a mighty appropriate choice.
DeleteWhen I posted my comment, it somehow wound up WAY down at the bottom of the page.
ReplyDeleteI think the Evil Blog Gremlins had something to do with it.
Ha ... April Fools!
DeleteSome great ideas.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Susan!
DeleteMacie Ann makes me smile, too. Spent time yesterday with my favorite doodle and had such a good time.
ReplyDeleteYes! I do remember the bacon grease container my mother had. It was part of a canister set that had containers for flour, sugar, fat, and maybe another one. I don't guess she ever used it for anything and I always thought is was weird that it was there.
ReplyDeleteArlee Bird
Tossing It Out